Osaka to Hakone

Assuming that we have the JR rail pass, what is the shortest route, using the JR pass, from Osaka to Hakone?

Heard that there's a premium outlet shopping area near to Hakone. Any idea where is that place and how to get there from Hakone and back to Tokyo? Thanks.

If you mean the Premium Outlet, Gotemba, then it is not really an option to go there on the way to Tokyo. Why not just go to their outlet in Osaka, it is going to have the same brand name products:

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/rinku/index.php

From Osaka to Hakone:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html?aFROM=2157_5200

From Osaka to the Gotemba Outlet:
Take the shinkansen to Mishima, then the Tokaido Line to Numazu, then the Gotemba Line to Gotemba and then the free shuttle bus to the outlet.

Alternatively, you could take a highway bus all the way from Osaka to Tomei Gotemba IC and catch a shuttle bus to the outlet from there, but this takes much more time.